Stop motion for axminster looms



Dec. 22, 1942. E. J. DACEY STOP MOTION FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet l \NVEN TOR Y a D N fi m R .T Mm D E E, J. DACEY 2,306,303

swor MOTION FOR Axmusmn LOOMS Fild Dec; 26, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1942.

lNvEN-s- R EDWARD J'DAca- ATTORNEY Dec. 22, 1942. F E. J. DACEY 2,306,303

STOP MOTION FOR AXMINSTER LOOMS Filed Dec. 26, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIE-5' INVENTOR EDWARD IDAQEY Patented Dec. 22, 1942 UNlTED ST'i'ii FAN? OFEEQ Crompton &

Mass, a corporation Knowles Loom Works,

of Massachusetts Worcester,

Application December 26, 1941, Serial No. 424,457

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Axminster looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide means for stopping the loom if the tube frame is improperly positioned for transfer.

Axminster looms operate with a series of tube frames moved to and from active position by transporting chains. The tube frames move one by one to active position and are detached by means of clutches mounted on transfer arms and are then lowered to tuft forming position where they are given a rolling-in motion to form the tufts. The tube frame is then lifted and replaced on the chains and the latter advance to place the next tube frame in active position.

When Axminster looms operate at high speeds there is a tendency for the tube frames to be improperly released from the chains, in which event the transferrer arms descend as usual but one end of the tube frame will be held up until released from its chain by descent of the other end, whereupon the tube frame falls with damage to itself and other operating mechanism of the loom. It is an important object of my present invention to equip the transfer clutches with indicators for a stopping mechanism which will operate to stop the loom if the tube frame is not properly seated in the clutches, thereby arresting the transfer arms before the tube frame has an opportunity to fall.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide each clutch with an electric switch connected to an external loom controlling circuit in such a way that if the tube frame fails to be properly released from the transporting chains the circuit will effect loom stoppage. This result I may accomplish by using normally closed switches in the clutches which are in circuit with a master switch which is closed at that point in the loom cycle corresponding to the start of downward motion of the transfer arm. The switches will be in circuit with a solenoid or the like which controls stopping mechanism for the loom. Inasmuch as it is desirable to stop the loom if either end of the tube frame fails to be disconnected from its transporting chain the switches in the clutches are connected in parallel with the master switch so that if either of the clutch switches fails to be opened the loom will be stopped. In the description to follow I set forth a form of knock-01f mechanism which has been used heretofore in other types of looms, particularly in connection with warp stop mech anisms. It is to be understood that this type of mechanism is illustrative of but one means of carrying my invention into effect and I do not wish necessarily to be limited to the type of knockoff mechanism set forth herein.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a loom of the AXminster type having my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a detailed rear elevation looking in the direction of arrow 2, Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale, parts being in section,

Fig. 4 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 3 on an enlarged scale showing the clutch prior to reception of the tube frame,

Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 1 but showing the stop mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view similar to a portion of Fig. 5 showing the operation of the stopping mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a detail end View looking in the direction of arrow 7, Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 shows the circuit used with my invention.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, I have shown a loom frame I!) having a bottom shaft II which in the present instance rotates once for each three picks or beats of the loom. The loomis also provided with a lay shaft l2 carrying a reed R which is given a forward beating-up motion to the left as viewed in Fig. 1 each pick of the loom by a force derived from shaft It and transmitted through a rod I3. Front and back knife bars l4 and I5, respectively, are operated in the usual manner to sever the yarn Y from the tube frame T when the latter is in tuft forming position. A cloth board I? supports the fabric P which extends forwardly from the warp shed W.

The tube frame transporting chains are indicated at 26 in Fig. l and are advanced by sprockets one of which is set forth at 2 i. The sprockets are mounted on a pull-over shaft 22 operated in any approved manner to have intermittent feeding motions either to the right or left for the purpose of advancing the tube frames one at a time to active position from which they are moved to tuft forming position and then returned to active position. The shaft 22 has an angular motion for each tuft forming operation of the loom and the tube frame when in active position will be under the shaft 22 as shown in Fig. 1.

Transfer arms 25 are mounted on vertical pivots 26 and are actuated by a link 21 to have a motion laterally of the loom first toward the tube frame and then downward to move the latter to tuft forming position. The lever 25 is mounted on the second lever 30 secured to a shaft 3| which is given an angu ar motion in a left hand direction as viewed in Fig. 1 to lower the tube frame. The lever 36 is controlled by a link 32 and lever 33 pivoted as at 34. Lever 33 is operated by the usual cam mechanism not shown to give the aforesaid angular motions to the shaft 3| and dipping motion of the lever 25.

The forward end of each lever 25 is provided with a clutch 49 having a stud 4| received by the lever 25. Each clutch is also provided with a second stud 42 to receive a link 43 operated as suggested in Fig. 1 to cause rocking of the clutch about the stud 4| to effect a so-called rolling-in movement of the tube frame when the latter is in tuft forming position. Each clutch may have a pair of lateral wings 45 one of which is shown in Fig. 4 for engagement with the side walls of thetube frame and may also have a tongue 46 on which the tube frame rests.

The tube frame comprises an elongated body 48 as shown in Fig. 3 from which project the tuft guiding tubes 49. Each end of bar 48 is provided with a bracket 50 with which is associated a hook for cooperation with the corresponding transporting chain 20. A yarn spool.52 is mounted for rotation on the brackets 50 and supplies the tuft forming yarn which passes through the tubes 49.

Under normal conditions as the tube frame moves to the active position shown in Fig. 1 the hook 5| will be supported by the transporting chains and the arms will be spaced from'the ends of the tube frame. By means of wellknown mechanism the arms 25 are then moved inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 3, the upper part of the clutches engaging the hooks 5| to move them to disengaging position with respect to the transporting chains, after which the tube frame is supported on the tongues 46. The tube frame remains supported by the clutches and arms 25 throughout the tuft forming operation at the conclusion of which the arms 25 rise and the clutches move away from the tube frame to permit the hooks 5| to become reengaged with the transporting chains.

The matter thus far described is of common construction and except as pointed'out hereinafter forms no part of my present invention. The operation of the transporting chain, the

arms 25, levers 30, the reed R and the cutting knives are as usual.

In carrying my invention into efiect I provide electrically controlled mechanism to stop the loom should the tube frame fail to be released from its transporting chains as the arms 25 descend. Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and '7, it will be seen that each of the clutches 40 has an inside surface 66 which leads to the upwardly facing surface 6| of the tongue 46 to define therewith a seat for the reception of the lower end corner of the tube frame. The clutch is provided with a diagonally disposed housing or casing 62 provided with a bore 63 in which'is mounted a plunger 64 secured to a screw 65 having at its lower end a head 66. A spring 61 surrounds that part of the screw 65 between the plunger 64 and that part of the extension 62 forming the lower wall of the bore 63 and serves normally to hold the plunger 64 projecting beyond the corner defined by surfaces 66 and 6| and in the path of the tube frame, as shown in Fig. 4.

The lower end of each extension 62 is provided with an insulated plate 16 secured to the extension by screws H, and having lateral ears 12 to which are secured the opposite ends of a contact plate 13. The screw 65 passes through the plate 13 without touching it, but the head 66 is adapted for engagement with the contact 13 when the parts are in the normal position shown in Fig. 4. An electric wire 14 leads from the plate at the right end of the tube frame, as shown in Fig. 3, while the second similar wire 15 leads from the contact plate 13 at the left end of the loom.

When the arms 25 move in to release the tube frame heads 66 are in contact with plates 73. If the tube frame is properly released as indicated in Fig. 3 the lower corners of its opposite ends will depress the corresponding plungers 64 and move the screw heads 66 outwardly to break contact with their plates 13, as indicated in Fig. 3. If for any reason one or both ends of the tube frame should fail to be disconnected from the tube frame one or another of the plungers 64 will remain as shown in Fig. 4 and the corresponding screw head 66 will maintain its contact with the associated plate 13. From this it will be understood that the electric contact is broken at both clutches if the tube frame is properly released, but if either end is held up so that it cannot descend to tuft forming position, thecorresponding contact will remain closed.

As shown in Fig. 1 cam H has secured thereto a cam plate 86 the periphery of which engages the cam follower 8| on lever 33 to give the latter its rising and falling motions to effect movement of the transfer arms 25. Plate 86 also has secured thereto a cam tappet 82 positioned for engagement with an electric switch designated generally at 83 and having a movable contact arm 84 positioned for engagement with the tappet. Under normal conditions the switch 83 is open, but when tappet 62 engages the arm 84 the switch is closed temporarily during that portion of the loom cycle starting immediately after the beginning of descent of the transfer arms 25.

' The electric connections between the switches is shown in Fig. 8 where it will be seen that the wires 14 and 75 are connected to a wire 88 from which extends a second wire 89 to one side of the switch 83. The other side of switch 83 is connected by wire 90 to an electric solenoid 9| and the latter in turn is connected to one side of a source of electric power conventionally indicated at 92. By means of wire 93 the other side of the source of power is grounded. The plungers 64 and the are mounted are grounded to the casings 62 and these casings in turn are grounded through their metallic connections with other loom parts.

It will be apparent from Fig. 8 that if both contacts are broken at the clutches no current can flow throughthe solenoid 9| when switch 83 is closed, but if either clutch contact remains closed current will flow through that part of the circuit including the closed clutch contact to energize solenoid 9|.

Energization of the solenoid 9| is rendered effective to stop the loom by the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6. A side pull shipper handle 95 on the loomside moves in a guide 96 having a slot 9'! the upper end of which is notched as at screws 65 on which they,

2,306,303 3 98 to receive the shipper handle. When -the the full line position in Fig. -'6 to effect loom loom is operating the handle is in the notch and stoppage. held thereby in driving position. The lower end Tappet 82 is long enough to insure actuation of of the shipper handle is secured to a rearwardly extending shipper shaft I journaled at In! and secured to anarm I52 linked as at I03 to a drive controlling lever Hit. A driving gear Hi5 connected to any suitable source of driving power is adjacent to a disk clutch Hi6 which is moved into driving relation with respect to the gear Hi5 when the lever I04 moves from the full to the dotted line position in Fig. 6. When the loom is to be stopped lever Ifl i is moved to the right from the dotted line position of Fig. 6 simultaneously with unseating of the shipper handle from the'notch 98.

The mechanism for unseating the shipper handle includes a lever I I0 movable about a fixed pivot III and having a pin H2 which can be moved against theshipper handle in a direction to move the latter to the right as viewed in Fig. 5. The lever H0 is connected to'a descending link H3 which is attached to the core iii of the solenoid 9i. When the solenoid is energized lever I I0 moves from the full to the dotted line position of Fig. 6.

Shaft II has secured thereto a cam I21. to rock a lever I2! on a fixed pivot 622. A knockoff link I23 on the lever slides along a fixed support I2 8 and has a notch I 25 to receive a pin I26 on an arm I27 of lever H0. Pin 526 is normally below link I23 and the latter has a motion to the left, Fig. 6, from the full to the dotted line position every third pick of the loom during the first part of the descent of the tube frame arms 25.

In the operation of my invention the clutches 40 are presented at regular intervals to the actively placed tube frame to disconnect it from the chains and move it toward tuft forming position. If the tube frame is properly released the circuit shown in Fig. 8 will be broken at each clutch switch and closure of switch 83 will fail to energize solenoid 9i and the loom will continue to operate. If, however, either end of the tube frame should remain connected to its chain the corresponding plunger 54 will not be depressed during the first part of the down motion of the transfer arm and the associated contact will therefore remain closed. Current will then flow from ground over wire 93, source of electric power 92, solenoid Si, wire 90, switch 83, and wire 88 through whichever clutch switch happens to be closed and back to the ground. This circuit is closed by the tappet 82 when it moves arm 86 to the right as viewed in Fig. 1, and this occurs very shortly after the point in the loom cycle when the transferrer arms 25 have started their downward motion.

Energization of solenoid 9|, as seen in Fig. 6, will result in rocking lever H0 from the full to the dotted line position and result in raising pin I26 into the path of notch or shoulder I25 on link I23. The cam I26 is set in such position on shaft ii that the link I23 will be moved to the left immediately after the time for energization of the solenoid 9i, and during left hand motion of the link I23 the lever Illl will be given an additional angular motion by engagement of shoulder I25. with pin I26 to move pin H2 against the shipper handle 95 and unseat the latter from the notch 98. Thereupon spring H5 which surrounds aportion of shipper'shaft I 00 acts to move lever I04 from the dotted to the solenoid 9I until notch I 25 can engage pin I26, and may be long enough if desired to maintain the circuit through the solenoid closed throughout the whole stroke of link I23 to the left as seen in Fig. 6. The tappet then leaves arm 84 and the previously closed circuit is open. The tappet 82 is disengaged from arm 84 throughout the greater part of the three-pick cycle and it is for this reason that closure of the clutch switches will not cause current to flow through the solenoid except at that point in the three-pick cycle when stopping should occur.

When the transferrer arms 23 move into the positions shown in Fig, 3 the clutch switches will be open even though one end of the tube frame will eventually be held up by its chain. The tappet 82 therefore acts to close switch 83 at the time when the transfer arms would be lowered a short distance from their high starting position. By that time the clutch switch corresponding to the end of the tube frame which is held up will have had opportunity to be reclosed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for stopping the loom if either end of the tube frame fails to be dislodged from its transporting chain. Loom stoppage preferably occurs early enough in the loom cycle to prevent substantial descent of the transfer arms after indication of stoppage is given, thereby providing for supporting the tube frame and preventing it from falling. It will also be seen that I have provided each clutch with a normally closed electric switch which must be opened by presence of the tube frame before weaving can continue. The clutch switches are preferably in parallel circuits so that each is in series with the master switch which in turn controls the stopping mechanism.- While I have Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be those skilled in the art without details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In an Axminster loom having transporting chains to move a tube frame to active position, transfer arms to disconnect the tube frame from said chains and thereafter descend to move the tube frame to tuft forming position, an electric for the stopping mechanism,

I sition with respect to the 4 from normal to abnormal position during descent of said transfer arms.

2. In an Axminster loom operating with transporting chains to move a tube frame to active position, a pair of transferrer arms to release the tube frame from the chains, stopping mechanism forthe loom, an electric switch on each transferrer arm, electro-magnetic control means and an electric circuit including said switches and electro-magnetic means rendered effective on failure of the tube frame to be released from the chains to energize the electro-magnetic means to cause the stopping mechanism to stop the loom.

3. In an Axminster loom having transporting chains to move a tube frame to active position, transfer arms to disconnect the tube frame from the chains and thereafter move said tube frame to tuft forming position, a normally closed electric switch on each transfer arm positioned for engagement with the tube frame to be opened thereby when said tube frame is in proper pogiven transfer arm, electrically controlled stopping mechanism for the loom, and means to cause said stopping mechanism to stop the loom when the tube frame fails to open both switches in said transfer arms preparatory to movement of the tube frame to tuft forming position by said transfer arm.

4. In an Axminster chains to move a tube frame to active position, a pair of transfer arms to disconnect the tube frame from said chains and move the tube frame to tuft forming position, loom stopping mechanism, electro-magnetic control means for the mechanism, a normally closed switch on each transfer arm positioned to be opened by the tube frame when the latter is properly related to the transfer arm preparatory to movement thereof by said transfer arm to tuft forming position, and electrical connections between said switches on said transfer arms and said electromagnetic means to effect loom stoppage when the tube frame fails to open said switches on the transfer arms preparatory to movement by the latter to tuft forming position.

5. In an Axminster loom having transporting chains to move a tube frame to active position, transfer arms to engage and disconnect the tube frame from the chains and thereafter lower the tube frame to tuft forming position, a normally closed switch on each transfer arm in position to be opened by the tube frame when the latter is properly related with respect to the transfer arm preparatory to movement thereof to tuft forming position, mechanism capable of stopping the loom during the time that the tube frame is normally disconnected from said chains, and an electro-magnetic control for said stopping mechanism controlled in part by said switches to cause said stopping mechanism to stop the loom if the tube frame fails to open the switches in said transfer arms preparatory to movement of the tube frame to tuft forming position.

6. In an Axminster loom having transporting chains to move a tube frame to active position, transfer arms to disconnect the tube frame from the chains and thereafter descend to move the tube frame to tuft forming position, a normally closed electric switch on each transfer arm positioned for engagement with the tube frame to be opened thereby when said tube frame is properly related with respect to the transfer arm during descent of the latter, and electro-magnetic controlled topping mechanism for the loom conloom having transporting pair of transfer arms trolled in part by said switches and effective td stop the loom during descent of said transfer arms if the tube frame fails to open each of said switches.

"7. In an Axminster loom having transporting chains to move a tube frame to active position, a to engage and disconnect the tube frame from said transporting chains and thereafter descend to move the tube frame to tuft forming position, an electric switch on each transfer arm positioned. to be engaged by the tube frame and be held in abnormal position by the latter when the tube frame is properly related with respect to the transfer arms during descent of the latter, electro-magneticallycontrolled loom stopping mechanism including parallel circuits, one for each switch, and means controlled by said switches and circuits to cause said stopping mechanism to stop the loom if either switch fails to be held in abnormal position by the tube frame during descent of said transfer arm.

8. In an Axminster loom having transporting chains to move a tube frame to active position, a pair of transfer arms to engage and disconnect the tube frame from said chains and thereafter descend to move the tube frame to tuft forming position, a switch on each transfer arm in position to be engaged by the tube frame and be: abnormal position when. the tube frame is properly related to aid transfer arms during descent of the latter, a master switchmoved from normal to closed during that part of the loom. cycle during? which the transfer arms descend, loom stoppingmechanism, an electro-magnetic controller for said mechanism, and circuits including said master switch, said electro-magnetic controller and said switches on the transfer arms effective to cause the controller to effect loom stoppage through said stopping mechanism if the switch on either arm fails to be in abnormal position during descent of said transfer arms.

9. An Axminster loom tube frame transfer clutch having a pocket to receive a tube frame, a plunger resiliently mounted on the clutch and normally projecting into said pocket in position to be engaged by a tube frame which is properly seated in said pocket, and an electric contact on said clutch to be closed by said plunger and opened by the tube frame when the latter engages the plunger.

10. The structure set forth in claim 9 wherein the plunger is disposed diagonally on the clutch with respect to the portions of the latter which form said pocket.

11. The structure set forth in claim 9 wherein the plunger is positioned for engagement with a tube frame extending to the bottom of said pocket but out of position for engagement of a tube frame which extends into the upper part only of said pocket.

12. A transfer clutch for an Axminster loom tube frame transfer arm, said clutch having a,

vertical wall and a tube frame supporting lip extending horizontally therefrom, a casing formed on the clutch and having a bore therein opening through said wall and lip, a resiliently mounted plunger member in said bore, an electric contact closed normally by said plunger member and carried by said clutch, said plunger member projecting normally into the space occupied by the tube frame when the latter is in normal engagement with said clutch and being depressed by the tube frame to open said contact.

EDWARD J. DACEY. 

